Draft rigging



April 5, 1932.

DRAFT D S BARROWS RIGGING Filed March 28, 1925 Patented Apr. 5, 1932STATS PATNT orifice DONALD S. BARROWS, F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTO THE SYMINGTON COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MARYLANDDRAFT BIGGING Application led March 28, 1925. Serial No. 18,994.

This invention aims primarily to provide an improved draft rigging forrailway cars. One object of the invention is to combine a hoodedvertical yoke with a two-part coupler stem so that the coupler stem andyoke move together on draft, whereas the stem moves independently of theyoke on bu. The two-'part coupler stem comprises a coupler shankterminating short of the cushioning mechanism and a swivel blockinterposed between the shank and the cushioning mecha` nism. This swivelblock is articulated by a tongue and socket joint with the couplershank, whereby the latter may pivot or angle relatively to the swivelblock, without interfering with the transmission of stresses directly tothe cushioning mechanism. The yoke is connected to the coupler stemduring draft movement by key means which may include a vertical keymember interconnecting the constituent lparts of the stem, in order thatboth said parts partake of both draft and bufing movements, and havingportions projecting beyond the stem which are disposed in relativemotion relationship with the top and bottom walls of the yoke hood,whereby the coupler stem moves independently of the yoke on buff.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for preventingaccidental dis# placement in service and loss of the vertical key memberby which the coupler shank and swivel block are interconnected to form atwo-part coupler stem.

In addition to the general objects just stated, the invention has forfurther objects such other improvements and advantages in structure andoperation as may be attained by the improved draft rigging hereinafterdescribed or claimed. y

In the drawings which illustrate a structural embodiment of theinvention in a preferred form:

Figure l is a top plan view, partly in section, showing a two-partcoupler stem and hooded vertical yoke connected according to stituentparts of the stem to opposite walls `of Y the yoke hood, whereby thestem and yoke move together on draft, whereas the `stem movesindependently of the yoke on buff. As shown inrFigure l, the draftrigging is positioned betweenthe draft or center sills 4, which areprovided with longitudinally elongated slots 5 to receive thehorizontalkey member hereinafter described. Cheek plates 6 havingcompanion slots may be secured to the inner faces of the sills. Theregistered slots of the sills and cheek plates are long enough to permitfull draft and bufing movements of the rigging. The laterally-enlargedrear portions of the cheek plates function as stops or abutments duringthe compression of the cushioning mechanism on draft.

The vertical yoke 2 is formed with forwardly extending top and bottomyoke arms 9, which provide a pocket for the cushioning mechanism,indicated diagrammatically by dot and dash lines in Figure 2. At itsrear end, the yoke may be of any desired form, for eXample,-it may beprovided with the usual vertical portion connecting the spaced top andbottom arms 9 to provide a U-shaped yoke. In the front, the yoke 2projects be-V yond the cushioning mechanism, and is provided with a hood36 which may be formed integrally with the top and bottom yoke arms 9.This yoke hood comprises the top and bottom walls 37 and 38 connected bythe side walls 10 and 11. The walls of the yoke hood are locatedrespectively above and below and at the opposite sides of that portionof the twokpart coupler stem which is inserted within the hood. In theside walls and 11 are provided key slots 12 and 13, which are elongatedendwise and along'the line of move- V ment of the draft rigging, toreceive the hori- .zio

zontalkey member 3, hereinafter described. During draft movement, thekey member 3 contacts with the side walls of the yoke at forwardextremities of the slots 12 and 13, for the transmission of draft forcesfrom the coupler stem to the yoke. The slotsV 12 and 13 extendrearwardly beyond the horizontal key member, so that the coupler steinmay `move independently of the yokev on-bu. In the form shown, the topand bottom walls 37 and 38 of the yoke hood are substantially hori-Zontal and are each provi-ded with lopenings 39 and 40, receivingrespectively the projecting endsof .a vertical key member 8, hereinafterdescribed, which interconnects the constituent parts of the couplerstein. As .shown in Figure 1, the openings 39 and A40 in the yoke hoodmay take the form of recesses having rearwardly converging sides andextending rearwardly a distance suiiicient to permit rearward movementof the vertical key member concurrently with the coupler stem .on buff.

The constituent elements of the two-part coupler stem are the couplershank 1, and the swivel block'7. AAt its front end, the shank 1`isprovided with the usual coupler, not shown. At its 'rear end, theshank is bifurcated, so that it .has top and bottom rearwardlyprojecting branches or flanges 14 :and 15, which terminate short of thecushioning mechanism and are formed. at their rear ends withlconvexl'ycurved bearing` faces 42 and 43. The branches 14 and 15 also function asthe top and bottom walls of a sock-et 41 comprising one element of atongue and socket joint by which the coupler shank is articulated Vwiththe swivel block. If desired, the coupler shank may be formed withvertically projectingflange portions 21 and 22 located .at the frontends of the branches 14 and 15 of the bifurcation and having rearwardlyfacing concavely curved bearing faces oo-axial with the bearing faces 42and A43.' The front inner wall of the socket 41 may be "providedlikewise with a co-axial concavely curved bearing` face 25. The swivelblock 7, `forming the other part of the two-part couplerstem, partakesof both the draft and buffing movements of the shank 1. j It performsthe dual function of an abut-- ment for the swivelling or angling of the"I shank and a transmitting element by vwhich vstresses are -directedfrom the shank to the cushioning mechanism. In structure, the swivelblock`7 1s formed with a rear substantially plane, verticahbufling faceadaptioning mechanism, and is provided also with forwardly facing topand bottom, concavely curved, co-axial bearing faces 19 and 20, whichare mutually companionate with the bea-ring faces 42 and43 of the shankand are engaged thereby for `the transmission of stresses directly tothe cushioning mechanism during bufing movement. Between the bearingfaces 19 and 20, the swivel block is formed with a forwardly projectingtongue 17 constituting the other element of the tongue and socket joint,and extending within the socket 41 of the shank. The front end of thetongue 17 may be formed with a convexly curved `bearing face 23companionate tothe bearing face 25 at the inner end of the socket 41. Inthe illustrative structure, the swivel block is provided also withforwardly projecting top and bottom flanges 16 and 18, which overlie andunderlie respectively the top and bottom branches 14 and 15 of .thebifurcated coupler shank.v These flanges '16 and 18 may be formed .attheir front ends with curved bearing lfaces compa-monate to therearwardly facing bearing faces pro- .vided by the vertical flanges 21and 22rof the coupler shank. Y 'Y Y The constituent parts of the couplerstem are interconnected so lthat they move in unison both on draft andon buffgfanid areY connectedto the yoke by key means whereby the yoke isconnected to the coupler stem during draft movement, but the couplerstem moves independently Vof the yoke on buff.

The illustrative key means includes: a vertical key member 8 by whichthe constituent elements of the shankfare connected so as to operate asa unit and whichlserves as the guide for the pivotal kmotion of theshank 1 relatively `to the swivel block 7, vand a hori-I zontal keymember 3 by which the -coupler stem is connected to the yoke duringdraft movement. As shown in Figure 2,- the vertical key member 8 may bein the form of a pivot pin intersecting the swivel block and shankthrough registering holesV provided in the branches-14 and 15 of theshank and `in the tongue 17 and flanges 16 and 18 of .the swivel block.The top and bottom extremities of the pin 8 project beyond thetop andbottom of the coupler stem and into the 'openings 39 and 40 in the topand bottom'w'alls 37 and 38 of the yoke hood.

The horizontal key member '3, which connects the two-part coupler stemto the hood 'l-1 of the vertical yoke, passes through a key slot 44, onepart of which is provided in the shank 1 and the -o ther in the tongue17 ofthe swivel block 7 The key member 3 passes through a recess 45 inthe vertical key meniber 3 partially to intersect the latter. In orderto connect the yoke to the coupler Istem during draft movement, thekey'member 3 is inserted through the key slots 12 and 13 in the sidewalls of the yoke. However, the il" key member 3 is made relativelynarrower than the lengthwise dimensions of the slots 12 and 13, wherebythe coupler stem may move independently of the yoke on buff. Beyond theside walls of the yoke, the key member projects into the registeringopenings in the draft sills and cheek plates, as shown in Figure 1.

The illustrative draft rigging also provides means for preventingaccidental displacement of the vertical key member 8 while the riggingis in service. Extending below the bottom flange 18 of thec swivel block7 is a supporting ledge portion 34. This ledge 34 projects into a notch35 provided in the front of the vertical key member 8 at the lower endthereof, thereby preventing the key member from dropping out and causinga separation of the constituent elements of the two-part coupler stem.The ledge and notch construction also prevents the key member 8 fromturning, thereby eliminating unnecessary wear. rEhe key member may belocked also at its upper end against displacement and turning. As shownin Figures 1 and 2, the top flange 16 of the swivel butt is formed withan upwardly projecting lug 3l having a horizontal key-way portion 29 andthe vertical key member 8 is formed with a companionate horizontalkey-way portion 30. A flat retaining key 28 may be inserted through thekey-way provided bythe portions 29 and 30. After insertion, the ends ofthe retaining key 28 are preferably bent up as shown at and 33, forpreventing loss thereof. The retaining key 28 prevents accidentalwithdrawal of the pivot pin 8 even when the horizontal key member 3 hasbeen removed and also prevents turning of key member 8.

Describing the assembly and operation of the rigging: The constituentparts of the coupler stem, namely, the coupler shank 1 and the swivelblock 7, may be assembled with or without the vertical key member 8, andinserted as a unit into the hood of the vertical yoke 2. After the partshave been assembled so that the holes which receive the vertical keymember 8 are in registration, the vertical key member or pin 8 isdropped into position to connect the swivel block to the coupler shank.Thereafter, the retaining key 28 may be inserted and locked inpositionas shown in Figures 2 and 3. Finally, the horizontal key member 3 isinserted through 'the slot 44 in the coupler stem and recess #i5 in thevertical key, and through the key slots in the yoke hood, cheek platesand draft si ls. 'When the p-arts are so assembled, the coupler shank 1may angle relatively to the swivel block 7, and yet both constituentelements of the two-part stem partake of both draft and buii'ingmovements. During draft moveY ment, the forces are transmitted by theswivel block to the horizontal key member 3 which in turn transmits theforces to the yoke. The vertical key member 8 is placed under quadrupleshear on draft. During buiing movement, the two-part coupler stem movesrelatively to the yoke and the buliing stresses are transmitted directlythrough the interengaged mutually companionate bearing faces to thecushioning mechanism, irrespective of the angle assumed `by the couplershank relatively to the swivel block. rlhe vertical key member 8 isrelieved substantially from strain on bud.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated, itwill be understood that modications may be made within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

l. 1n a draft rigging, the combination with a yoke member, of a two-partcoupler stem, means for pivotally connecting the parts of the stemadjacent the butt thereof, means intersecting said coupler stem andpivotal means, for preventing separation thereof, and connecting meansbetween couplerv stern and yoke.

2. 1n a draft rigging, the combination with a coupler, of a yoke, aswivel block interposed between said coupler and yoke, means connectingsaid swivel block and yoke, a pin intersecting said coupler and swivelblock, and key means intersecting said swivel l block and pin forpreventing separation thereof, the ends of said key means being bentover for preventing loss of said key.

3. In a draft rigging, the combination with a coupler, of a yoke withforwardly extending arms embracing the rear end of the coupler, a swivelblock interposed between said coupler and yoke, means connecting saidswivel block and yoke, pivotal means intersecting said coupler andswivel block, and key means intersecting said swivel block and pivotalmeans for preventing separation thereof.

e. 1n a draft rigging, the combination with a coupler, of a yoke, aswivel block interposed between said coupler and yoke, means connectingsaid swivel block and yoke, pivotal means intersecting said coupler andswivel block, key means intersecting said swivel block and pivotal meansfor preventing separation thereof, and means eXtending from said swivelblock and below said pivotal means for supporting the same.

5. A coupler stem comprising a plurality of members, pivotal meansconnecting said members and extending above the upper face of said stem,saidmeans and one of said members being provided with cooperatingkey-ways in the extended upper end of said means and a correspondingextension from the upper face of said stem, and a key eX- tendingtherebetween in said key-ways for preventing removal of said pivotalmeans.

6. A coupler-stem-comprsng a plurality of members, pivotal meansConnecting said members, said means and one of said members beingprevided With cooperating key- WzL-ys', a key .extending therebetween insaid key-Ways for preventing :removal of said Y plvotal means, and meansextending from one of said members` below said pivotal means forsupporting the same.

In testmon;T `whereof I ax my signature.

DONALD S. BARROWS..

